When Locke Lord launched its first mobile app seven years ago, it was still an unusual move for a law firm.

“We did that right when apps were hot,” recalled Julie Gilbert, the firm's chief marketing officer.

Fast-forward 10 years, and law firms apps have exploded. Four years ago, the last time the American Bar Association counted, there were more than 200—enough to merit a story with this headline: “Top 10 Reasons Not to Bother With a Law Firm App.”